Apple Increases Work Scheduling Commitments for Retail Store Employees

[rogan]

bit of an exaggeration all part time employees currently work 20+ hours a week excluding special circumstance exceptions

since April 2010 apple hasn't taken on new part time employees on contracts under 20 hours a week so its only a 4 hour/week increase in minimum hours not 8

 

[fxscreamer]

Working Apple retail is horrific but it can lead to many other opportunities if you play your cards right. I worked as a "Genius" for years and thankfully escaped with my dignity remaining. I now work as an IT analyst for a private company and am never looking back. Yes its retail and it sucks, but you gotta be smart and work your way out with an intuitive exit plan.

Best of luck to the Apple employees who really love their jobs and who give their best everyday. I gotta admit Apple Retail work-life balance is the worst I have ever experienced out of any retail job. Because so many people want to work at Apple, the ball is in Apple's court.

"horrific" may be a strong word, but as a former genius of many years myself, I agree with pretty much everything. I had up and down times working there, but there's no doubt it gave me skills that helped me excel in the next transition of my life. It was a rough job though. I left a few months after the midnight shifts kicked in (yet not all stores had to do that....hmmmm).

 

[aardwolf]

I applied for a part-time job there a couple of years ago... because money was tight and I was looking for a way to make a little extra money.

They asked me to come to a "group interview", and bring an object that represented what was most important to me. I would have to share that with the group.

It all seemed kind of silly, and I ended up not bothering. I'm curious how many job applicants brought their iPhones as something that was most important to them.

 

[TallManNY]

Some really good employees will be the ones who have other stuff going on that restricts the number of hours they can devote to apple sales. But in an economy where employers still have most of the cards, getting more hours out of your employees is a logical thing to do. And as noted above this may be pretty close to what Apple has been doing anyway in practice.

 

[scoobydoo99]

Maybe we could get a front page story on the Apple Store janitorial schedules as well. I, for one, would love to know how often they dust the shelves and take out the trash.

 

[JAQ]

I wonder if this means they're committing to offer part-timers at least 24 hours a week? Back when Wall Street torpedoed the economy a few years ago and traffic dropped off, all the part-timers at my local store found that they were only getting scheduled for 15 hours every week instead of the 20-25 they'd been getting.

 

[aardwolf]

Just wait... before you know it they'll be sleeping at the store like at Foxconn.

 

[bbeagle]

Working Apple retail is horrific but it can lead to many other opportunities if you play your cards right. I worked as a "Genius" for years and thankfully escaped with my dignity remaining. I now work as an IT analyst for a private company and am never looking back. Yes its retail and it sucks, but you gotta be smart and work your way out with an intuitive exit plan.

Exactly WHO thinks an Apple retail job is their life goal?

An Apple retail job is either a first stepping stone, which is a lot better than something like McDonalds, a job during college, or it's a secondary job to earn extra pay after working a first job. I've never heard of anyone thinking it's the end all, be all job.

And Apple retail is NOT horrific in relation to other comparable jobs.

 

[talmy]

I've never had trouble finding an available employee for help at the local Apple Store. What I've had problems with is space. They need much larger stores. Seeing how packed it is I'm surprised the Fire Marshall hasn't intervened!

 

[fruitycups]

The stores are so popular!
Now it will be easier to get support!

 

[chriszzz]

Exactly WHO thinks an Apple retail job is their life goal?

From my experience in two large stores it was approximately:

50% who had an unhealthy obsession with the company and had no plans on leaving
30% who were just hanging out until they found something better
20% who hated every second they were at work and spent every waking, non-working minute looking for a new job (that was me!)

 

[finnns2000]

I remember the good ol' days of working at Apple before the iPhone was launched. After that, it became hell and looked like a Tokyo subway car during rush hour. No thanks.

 

[dubprocess]

"horrific" may be a strong word, but as a former genius of many years myself, I agree with pretty much everything. I had up and down times working there, but there's no doubt it gave me skills that helped me excel in the next transition of my life. It was a rough job though. I left a few months after the midnight shifts kicked in (yet not all stores had to do that....hmmmm).

horrific=management

 

[litmag01]

What about hiring more staff? Ain't that an option? After all it's the wealthiest company in the world...

What is really needed are more stores. We always staff well, it is just that there are sooooo many customers (which is a good thing).

 

[carmenodie]

The reason those Apple stores are a phenomenon is because most of the folks in there are clueless and Apple babies those upper middle class dou***** bag.
That leaves me waiting around like a sick patient in a fifth world hospital where they re-use the toilet paper.
Lol!
No,really,them goddamn Apple stores are so effing crowded I want to slap someone. GRRRRRR!

 

[Moduz]

What Apple needs is fewer employees who can "enter you into a queue" and more employees who can get the product that you want from the back, bring it to you and take payment from you. I am tired of being told I will be entered into a queue... in fact the next time someone says that to me I am going to respond, "Can you read? Are you literate? Yes? OK great! Can you carry a box? Perfect!!! What I want is for you to go in the back and get me ____________ and on your way back, grab one of those handheld scanners that are used to take payment from people and we will figure out how to use it together. I am a pretty smart guy, you are a genius... between the two of us I think we can figure out how to get me out of here in under an hour."

 

[Joshwawilson]

Wirelessly posted

And the fact that they have so many applicants

 

[bushido]

What about hiring more staff? Ain't that an option? After all it's the wealthiest company in the world...

i wish more companies would go this way but its just too "expensive". spent last month in India and it makes me sad to see how many job positions/opportunities get wasted in the western world.

 

[diane143]

They asked me to come to a "group interview", and bring an object that represented what was most important to me. I would have to share that with the group.

It all seemed kind of silly, and I ended up not bothering. I'm curious how many job applicants brought their iPhones as something that was most important to them.

It would have been interesting to see what people did bring.

 

[Doctor Q]

Since Apple wants more time from its retail store employees, it's time for Apple to establish living quarters -- residential Apple Cities surrounding each retail store. That way employees can move into an Apple City, live there without ever leaving Apple territory, and work 16 hours a day 7 days a week to earn as much money, as quickly as possible, to send back to their families. The Fair Labor Association could keep an eye on working conditions to make sure that everyone is happy.

 

[charlituna]

What about hiring more staff? Ain't that an option? After all it's the wealthiest company in the world...

most of the stores are so small they are already jammed packed. Putting more workers in there would just make the issue worse.

Oh and according to a poster on the source article (who claims to be an employee) that Part timer info is wrong. they apparently have had to have 3 days of availability for a while. and it's measured in days not hours.

 

[8281]

I always avoid the Apple stores if I can. They're always too crowded. I'd rather just wait a couple of days for the item to be shipped to me, or wait a few months and buy a refurbished model for much less than new.

 

[RalfTheDog]

What about hiring more staff? Ain't that an option? After all it's the wealthiest company in the world...

Hiring more people reduces your flexibility. You may need more people today, fewer n three months. If you have too many people during the slow times, it is not good for anyone as too many people get too little work.

Life is a series of choices.

... or a box of ... never mind.

I hope this means that some people will leave. I think the Apple Stores around here are too crowded with staff waiting to help you find something and only three people who can handle your purchase. I miss the days where I'd walk in, be asked what I could be of help with, and then have someone run and get it for me while I stand at the register. Now I have to walk around and look for someone to make a purchase. Not really organized.

From a marketing standpoint, they want you to spend lots of time looking around for that mouse. You might see a new iPad cover or that cute little continum transfunctioner.

I've never had trouble finding an available employee for help at the local Apple Store. What I've had problems with is space. They need much larger stores. Seeing how packed it is I'm surprised the Fire Marshall hasn't intervened!

Smaller, packed in stores cost less to rent and the crowded feel builds excitement and makes Apple look even more successful.

 

[Doc750]

Guess you've never heard of hipsters before....

.

Guess you missed the part where I said they're appearance was artificial

 

[Hustler1337]

According to the report, while Apple has been requiring many of its full-time staff to work one of the two weekend days per week, the company is now redefining Friday as a weekend day and requiring Specialists, Creatives, and Geniuses to work two out of the three weekend days per week.For part-timers, Apple will be requiring a minimum weekly commitment of 24 hours, up from 16 hours. The change will potentially squeeze those workers who have multiple jobs or other commitments that led them to join the Apple store on a part-time basis in the first place.

I feel sorry for the employees, in particular, the part-timers. As a part time worker myself (not working at Apple), I struggle to cope with 16 hours a week on top of the demands of University work. It seriously affects my studies, but I have no choice. Often there is a reason why people work part time as they have other commitments, and to force them to raise their weekly hours is something I would consider unfair.

Yes, it does help to ensure employees are committed to their work and take their job more seriously to the benefit of the company, but what about those who chose to work part time as it fits around their other activities?

/rant lol